Add-on housing

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a mounting housing for example for circular connectors. For a convenient pre-assembly of the mounting housing it comprises an access opening which can be closed by means of a cover. The cover is hooked in a housing body of the mounting housing on one side and is secured at the housing body via a retaining nut, with the cover in conjunction with a seal arranged in the area of the access opening sealing same. In addition, a vibration protection is provided in that the cover comprises a contoured area which in the screwed on condition is urged by the retaining nut against a corresponding area of the housing body. The mounting housing also comprises a mounting flange which is formed at the housing body in such a manner that an installation and removal of the mounting housing at corresponding mounting surfaces is possible after the pre-assembly of the mounting housing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relapses to a mounting housing forelectrical and/or optical conductors, fluid lines, and mechanicalcomponents, such as e.g. articulated shafts or Bowden cables. Theinvention relates in particular to an angled mounting housing which, inthe pre-assembled condition, can be attached at a corresponding mountingsurface, with a cover which can easily be locked with one body of themounting housing being used for the access to one feed-through of same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In order to attach for example connectors for electrical and/ oroptical conductors at a casing of a switchgear cabinet, so-calledmounting housings are used. The mounting housings are attached at anexternal surface of the switchgear cabinet casing and comprise afeed-through which is communicating with the interior of the switchgearcabinet. The feed-through serves to guide electrical and/or opticalconductors from the switchgear cabinet to a connector which is installedat the mounting housing. Mounting housings are required in particular ifconnectors for switchgear cabinets are to be provided which are not tobe arranged perpendicular to a respective surface of the switchgearcabinet. In these cases, angled e.g. angled by 90°, and curved mountinghousings are used.

[0003] For pre-assembly of the mounting housings, these can compriseaccess opening to the feed-throughs, which can be closed by means ofcovers. Usually, such covers are screwed to the body of a mountinghousing in order to tightly seal the access opening, partly under usingsuitable sealing elements. It is also known to secure such covers at thebody of the mounting housing by means of suitable locking or snap-actionconnections.

[0004] From DE 34 03 774 A1 an angular line lead-in with a closing partwhich is pivotably linked in the area of a face at the outer edge isknown. In order to maintain the closing part in its locked position, asnap is provided at its other face. This snap is constituted by aprojection formed at an angle leg of the line lead-in and a grooveformed in the closing part, with which the projection engages uponclosing the closing part.

[0005] This approach impedes the removal of the cover if, for example,an access is required to the feed-through of the mounting housing formaintenance work. In this case, the removal of a cover is generally notpossible without special tools. When using screwed covers additionaltools are already required for closing the access opening.

[0006] In addition, it is generally not possible to attach a mountinghousing e.g. to a switchgear cabinet before the mounting housing hasbeen pre-assembled with corresponding electrical and/ or opticalconductors and/or connectors.

[0007] Similar problems result if mounting housings are used for(flexible) fluid lines, mechanical components such as e.g. articulatedshafts or Bowden cables and the like, for guiding same (in an angledfashion) out of the housing of a corresponding device. From DE 297 07529 U1 a cable feed-through is known which can be attached at a cableand at a housing which accommodates the wires of the cable in its innerspace. For securing the cable feed-through at the housing, one end ofthe cable feed-through comprises a flange with holes formed therein.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is the object of the present invention to provide a mountinghousing for the mentioned components to be guided by means of a mountinghousing, which can readily be pre-assembled, permits a convenient accessto the inner space of the mounting housing at any time, and whichenables a tight sealing of the access opening to the inner space of themounting housing, or its clearing, respectively, without special tools.Moreover, the invention is to provide a mounting housing which in thepre-assembled condition can be attached at a corresponding mountingsurface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] For this purpose, the invention provides a mounting housing forelectrical and/or optical conductors, fluid lines, mechanical componentssuch as e.g. articulated shafts or Bowden cables, and the like. Theinventive mounting housing comprises a housing body, a feed-throughextending through the housing body, an access opening to thefeed-through through the housing body, a cover movably connected withthe housing body for closing and clearing the access opening, and aretaining means for securing the cover in its closed condition at thehousing by means of a clamping connection.

[0010] The cover comprises in particular an extended area which in theclosed condition of the cover is secured (clamped) between the retainingmeans and the housing body.

[0011] In order to improve the secureness of the cover the housing bodycomprises a contact area for the extended area of the cover, with theseareas being preferably formed in a positive manner. This positive fitbetween the extended area and the contact area improves the clampingeffect of the retaining means in the secured condition of the cover.

[0012] In addition, the extended area of the cover may comprise acontoured area which, for example, may be provided with recesses(longitudinal grooves, transverse grooves) formed in the cover. If theextended area is elastically deformable at least in the contoured area,the extended area additionally serves as a vibration protection for thecover.

[0013] In order to tightly seal the access opening in the closedcondition of the cover a sealing element (e.g. an O-ring) is arranged inthe area of the access opening. If the sealing element is elastic sothat it is elastically deformable with the cover in the closed andsecured condition due to an active connection with same, the forceswhich are thereby generated and act on the cover contribute to thesecureness of the cover.

[0014] As the retaining means a retaining nut or a sleeve which can beslid onto the housing body can be used. In the case of using a retainingnut, the housing body comprises a thread for fastening same. In thiscase, it is provided that the thread for the retaining nut is spaced inthe longitudinal direction of the feed-through from the contact area orthat in encompasses the contact area.

[0015] In the case of a slide-on retaining sleeve, this is to be securedon the housing body so that it will not be moved e.g. due to the elasticforces generated by the sealing element in the area of the accessopening and/or the extended area of the cover. For this purpose, lockingelements and/or clamping elements may be formed at the housing body.Examples for the locking elements are structures or components which aresuitable for the manufacture of engaging or snap-action connections orcomponents for bayonet joints. As clamping elements, for examplewedge-shaped structures formed at the housing body can be used.

[0016] In order to secure the retaining sleeve in a removable manner atthe housing body, the locking elements and/or the clamping elements canbe correspondingly movable and/or elastically deformable. Here, it isalso possible to use an elastically deformable retaining sleeve whichfor releasing its secure position at the housing body is elasticallydeformed.

[0017] In order to be able to attach the mounting housing at acorresponding mounting surface also in the pre-assembled condition, thehousing body comprises a mounting flange at a first end, with holesformed through it. In particular, the holes of the mounting flange arearranged in such a manner that they can be accessed also in the closedcondition of the cover in order to insert e.g. fastening screws.

[0018] Alternatively or additionally, the housing body may compriselocking or snap-action elements at its first end, which in the closedcondition of the cover, can be actuated for installation and removal ofthe mounting housing.

[0019] In an embodiment, the cover is movably hooked in the housing bodyby means of structures (e.g. projections forming a hinge) formed at thecover and the housing body, preferably at its first end. Thisconstruction permits a simple manufacture of the mounting housing, withthe additional possibility, for example for pre-assembling the mountinghousing, to remove the cover from the housing body (unhook it). Thismovable connection can also be made by means of shafts and/or pins whichare in active connection with the cover and the housing body whereby, onthe one hand, a removal of cover becomes more difficult but, on theother hand, the stability of its connection with the housing body isimproved.

[0020] In addition, the housing body may comprise fastening elements ata second end opposite the first end for fastening devices to be arrangedat the mounting housing. Examples for such devices are connectors forelectrical and/or optical conductors, connections for fluid lines andthe like. Depending on the devices to be arranged, these fasteningelements of the housing body may be threads, snap-action and/or lockingelements, or structures for bayonet joints formed thereon.

[0021] For securing the retaining means the mounting housing comprisescomponents which prevent a removal of the retaining means. Preferably,these securing components for the retaining means comprise a grooveformed in the housing body and an O-ring which can be installed at thehousing body in an active connection with the groove. The O-ring isdimensioned in such a manner that the retaining means cannot be removedfrom the housing body. In addition, such an O-ring also serves as asealing element and vibration protection for any of the previouslymentioned devices which can be arranged at the housing body.

[0022] Preferably, the housing body is a curved or angled (e.g. by 90°)body, with the possibility of also using an oblong housing body, if anaccess is to be made to its feed-through in the area of the connectionwith the respective mounting surface.

[0023] It is provided that the feed-through through the housing body hasan essentially round or rectangular cross-section, with the housingbody, in particular in the case of using a retaining nut, having a roundcross-section at least in the area of the thread in the longitudinaldirection of the feed-through.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0024] In the description of preferred embodiments reference is made tothe accompanying figures in which:

[0025]FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of aninventive mounting housing;

[0026]FIGS. 2 and 3 show perspective views of the mounting housing ofFIG. 1;

[0027]FIG. 4 shows a side view of the mounting housing of FIG. 1 in theassembled condition;

[0028]FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the mounting housing of FIG. 4;

[0029]FIG. 6 shows another side view of the mounting housing of FIG. 4;and

[0030]FIGS. 7a-7 d show further embodiments of inventive mountinghousings.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] The mounting housing 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 comprises a housingbody 2 angled by 90°, through which a conductor feed-through (notidentified) extends between openings 4 and 6. The conductor feed-throughhas an essentially round cross-section and serves to accommodateconductors for electrical and/or optical signals. As mentioned, themounting housing 1 can also be used for the accommodation of other linesand components, such as e.g. fluid lines, Bowden cables, and articulatedshafts.

[0032] At its end in the area of the opening 4 the housing body 2comprises a mounting flange 8 and a shoulder 10 formed thereon. As canbe seen in FIG. 5, the mounting flange 8 has an essentially rectangularcross-section and comprises one hole 12 each in its corner areas. Themounting flange 8 and its holes 12 serve to secure the mounting housing1 on a surface, e.g. of an electrical switchgear cabinet. In the area ofthe opening 4 the shoulder 10 has a cross-section which essentiallycorresponds to the cross-section of the cable feed-through (notidentified) and, upon an installation of the mounting housing 1, isinserted into an opening in the surface at which the mounting housing 1is to be attached. In order to seal the transition between the mountinghousing 1 and the corresponding mounting surface the bottom surface ofthe mounting flange 8 (FIG. 1) and/or the outer circumferential surfaceof the shoulder 10 may comprise a seal. The seal may be provided in theform of an O-ring, a coating, a flat seal and the like, and depending onthe selected type of seal, can also serve as vibration protection.

[0033] For pre-assembling the mounting housing 1, i.e. for arrangingconductors in its conductor through-feed, the housing body 2 comprisesan access opening 14 in its angled area, which due to the cross-sectionof the cable feed-through has an essentially round cross-section.Depending on the cross-section selected for the cable feed-through, theaccess opening 14 may have other cross-sectional shapes. In the area ofthe circumference of the access opening 14 an O-ring 16 is arranged as aseal.

[0034] For clearing and closing the access opening 14, a cover 18 isused which is hooked in the area of the face shown as upper face in FIG.1 of the mounting flange 8. For this purpose, the projections 20 and 22formed at the cover 18 and the mounting flange 8 are provided. In lieuof the projections 20 and 22 which are formed to be oblong as can beseen from FIG. 3 and serve as a hinge for moving the cover 3, shafts orpins (not shown) can be used which are guided through correspondingopenings or brackets (not shown).

[0035] The cover 18 comprises a so-called vibration protection 24 at itsend opposite the projection 20, which is formed by an extension formedat the cover 18. As can best be seen from FIG. 3, the vibrationprotection 24 has a contoured area 26 at its outer surface. Thecontoured area 26 comprises longitudinal grooves formed in the vibrationprotection 24, with provisions being made to also use transverse groovesor other structures which may also be arranged at both outer surfaces ofthe vibration protection 24 as long as the function of the vibrationprotection 24, which will be described in the following, is provided.

[0036] In an area of its outer circumferential surface which is shown asan upper surface in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the housing body 2 comprises apressure surface 28. The pressure surface 28 serves as a counter bearingfor the vibration protection 24 when the cover 18 for closing the accessopening 14 is moved in such a manner that it contacts the housing body2. In the closed condition of the cover 18 the O-ring 16 seals theaccess opening 14. For securing the cover 18 in its closed condition aretaining nut 30 is used which is screwed on the housing body 2 by meansof a thread 32.

[0037] The retaining nut 30 and/or the thread 32 are designed in such amanner that the vibration protection 24 is clamped between the retainingnut 30 and the pressure surface 28 when the retaining nut 30 is screwedon the housing body 2. This closed or assembled condition, respectively,of the mounting housing 1 is illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. Avibration protection for the mounting housing 1, or to be more precise,for the cover 18, is provided by the vibration protection 24 beingclamped between the retaining nut 30 and the pressure surface 28, and inparticular by its contoured area 26. In the simplest case the retainingnut 30 is screwed on the housing body 2 until the contoured area 26contacts the thread (not shown) arranged at the inner circumferentialsurface of the retaining nut 30. It is also possible to use retainingnuts which comprise an area on the inner circumferential surface withoutthread, which in the screwed on condition urges the vibration protection24 against the pressure surface 28. This, however, requires specialretaining nuts but permits to design the thread 32 shorter in thelongitudinal direction of the corresponding area of the housing body 2and/or to arrange it at a shorter distance from the opening 6.

[0038] Due to the use of the retaining nut 30 for securing the cover 18in its closed condition no additional tools are required. In addition,this increases the tolerances to be maintained by the rotatableconnection of the cover 18 with the housing body 2 because the screwedon retaining nut 30 urges the cover 18 in such a manner against theO-ring 16 that the access opening 14 is tightly sealed. The installationof the cover 18 at the housing body 2 can also be performed withoutadditional tools because the cover 18 under using the projections 20 and22 is simply hooked in the housing body 2. With the above mentionedpossible use of a rotation axis (e.g. in the form of a pin or split-pin)the assembly and disassembly of the cover 18 can also be performedwithout additional auxiliary means because, as described above, nospecial tolerances must be maintained for the rotatable connection ofthe cover 18 with the housing body 2.

[0039] For arranging further devices, e.g. a plug-and-socket connectionfor cables, at the mounting housing 1, the housing body 2 comprises athread 34 at its end adjacent to the opening 6. In order to provide asealed connection between a device screwed on the housing body 2 and thehousing body 2, a groove 36 is formed in the housing body 2, whichserves as a seat for an O-ring 38. For securing a device (e.g.plug-and-socket connection) at the mounting housing 1, for example acoupling ring (not shown) can be used which is screwed on the thread 34and sealingly contacts the O-ring 38. In addition to the sealingfunction of the O-ring 38 thereby provided, the O-ring 38 whencorrespondingly dimensioned prevents the loss of the retaining nut 30.The O-ring 38 also serves as a vibration protection for a devicearranged (screwed on) at the housing body 2.

[0040] Another advantage of the mounting housing 1 is that it can bearranged on a mounting surface (not shown) for the mounting flange 8also after pre-assembly, for example with a plug-and-socket connectionwhich is screwed on by using the thread 34. As can be seen from FIG. 5,the mounting flange 8 is formed in such a manner that the holes 12 areaccessible in the assembled condition of the mounting housing 1 in orderto insert corresponding fastening elements (e.g. screws, rivets).

[0041] In lieu of the holes 12 locking or snap-action elements (notshown) formed at the mounting flange 8 can be used which in activeconnection with a corresponding structure arranged at the mountingsurface for the mounting flange 8 provide a locking or snap-actionconnection for the mounting housing 1. For releasing such a snap-actionconnection in the assembled condition of the mounting housing 1,suitable elements/structures for the snap-action elements (not shown) ofthe mounting flange 8 are to be arranged like the holes 12 in areaswhich can be accessed in the condition of the mounting body 1 shown inFIG. 5.

[0042] In a similar manner, other suitable connection structures (e.g.locking or snap-action elements, elements for bayonet joints) can beused instead of the thread 34 for arranging further devices (e.g.connectors).

[0043] With reference to FIGS. 7a-7 d further embodiments of themounting housing will be explained. Contrary to the mounting housing 1illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, the mounting housing shown in FIG. 7acomprises a cable feed-through (not identified) which has a greatercross-section in the area extending towards the opening 4 than in thearea extending towards the opening 6. Thereby an access opening 14 canbe provided which is larger than the access opening 14 shown in FIGS.1-6. Such an enlarged access opening 14 may be required depending oncomponents (not shown) to be arranged in the mounting housing 1, or atleast facilitate their arrangement.

[0044] In addition, the rotatable connection/the hinge for the cover 18can also be arranged in an area of the housing body 2 in which in theembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 the pressure surface 28 is arranged.Accordingly, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7b the pressure surface 28is arranged in an area of the outer circumferential surface of thehousing body 2 adjacent to the opening 4. As described above, theretaining nut 30 in conjunction with a thread corresponding to thethread 32 serves to secure the cover 18 at the housing body 2. In orderto arrange the retaining nut 30 at the housing body 2 the mountingflange 8 must be formed later in the manufacture of the mounting housing1. In this case, in particular, the obvious solution would be to usesuitable locking or snap-action elements instead of the mounting flange8, as described above.

[0045] Moreover, it is provided to use a curved housing body (FIG. 7c)or an oblong housing body (FIG. 7d) instead of an angled housing body.With a curved housing body, it is of particular importance that thecorresponding area for the arrangement of the retaining nut 30 issuitably designed. The use of an oblong housing body for the mountinghousing may be required if the inner space of same is to be accessedwithout having to disassemble the mounting housing from e.g. aswitchgear cabinet or to remove devices (e.g. connectors) attached atthe mounting housing.

1. A mounting housing (1) for electrical and/or optical conductors,fluid lines, mechanical components such as articulated shafts of Bowdencables and the like, comprising: a housing body (2), a feed-throughextending through the housing body (2), an access opening (14) to thefeed-through through the housing body (2), a cover (18) movablyconnected with the housing body (2) for closing and clearing the accessopening (14), characterised by a retaining means (30) for securing thecover (18) in its closed condition by means of a clamping connection atthe housing body (2).
 2. The mounting housing according to claim 1,characterised in that the cover (18) comprises an extended area (24),and the extended area (24) in the closed condition of the cover (18) issecured between the retaining means (30) and the housing body (2). 3.The mounting housing according to claim 2, characterised in that thehousing body (2) comprises a contact area (28) which is formed for apositive contact with the extended area (24) of the cover (18), and theextended area (24) of the cover (18) in the closed condition of thecover (18) is secured between the retaining means (30) and the contactarea (28).
 4. The mounting housing according to claim 2 or 3,characterised in that the extended area (24) includes a contoured area(26) which comprises recesses formed in the cover (18).
 5. The mountinghousing according to claim 4, characterised in that the extended area(24) is elastically deformable at least in the contoured area (26). 6.The mounting housing according to one of the previous claims,characterised in that an elastic sealing element (16) is arranged in thearea of the access opening (14), which in the closed and securedcondition of the cover (18) is elastically deformed due to an activeconnection with same.
 7. The mounting housing according to one of theprevious claims, characterised in that the retaining means (30) is aretaining nut, and the housing body (2) comprises a thread (32) forinstalling the retaining means (30).
 8. The mounting housing accordingto claim 7, characterised in that the thread (32) is spaced in thelongitudinal direction of the feed-through from the contact area (28) orencompasses the contact area (28).
 9. The mounting housing according toone of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the retaining means (30) isa retaining sleeve which can be slid on the housing body (2).
 10. Themounting housing according to claim 9, characterised in that the housingbody (2) comprises locking elements and/or clamping elements forreleasably securing the retaining sleeve.
 11. The mounting housingaccording to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the retaining sleeveis elastically deformable for releasing its secured position at thehousing body (2).
 12. The mounting housing according to one of theprevious claims, characterised in that the housing body (2) comprises amounting flange (8) at a first end with holes (12) formed therein whichcan be accessed in the closed condition of the cover (18).
 13. Themounting housing according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterised inthat the housing body (2) comprises locking elements at a first endwhich can be actuated in the closed condition of the cover (18).
 14. Themounting housing according to one of the previous claims, characterisedin that the cover (18) is movably hooked in the housing body (2) byusing structures (20, 22) formed at the cover (18) and the housing body(2), or the cover (18) is movably connected with the housing body (2) bymeans of shafts or pins being in active connection with same and thehousing body (2).
 15. The mounting housing according to one of theprevious claims, characterised in that the housing body (2) comprisesfastening elements (34) at a second end opposite the first end fordevices to be arranged at the housing body (2).
 16. The mounting housingaccording to one of the previous claims, characterised in that thehousing body (2) is an angled, curved, or oblong body.
 17. The mountinghousing according to one of the previous claims, characterised in thatthe feed-through through the housing body (2) has an essentially roundor rectangular cross-section.
 18. The mounting housing according to oneof claims 3 to 17, characterised in that the housing body (2) has around cross-section at least in the area of the thread (32).